As the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) negotiate the teachers’ expired contract, rallies throughout Los Angeles were held to raise awareness of the issue.

“I was out here today to support our teachers, our librarians, our classified works, all of the people who work so hard to make our schools successful, to help our students achieve in life,” LAUSD Board Member for District 6 Kelly Gonez said in an interview during the rally. “I’m here in solidarity.” 

LAUSD employees from the eight unions showed up to support UTLA in the middle of negotiating a new contract to advocate for better salaries and affordable health care benefits for district employees and increased staffing for schools on Nov. 6. According to UTLA, there is $5 billion in LAUSD’s reserve, which led to the organization of the rallies to advocate for a new contract from the district to gain additional funding and support for LAUSD employees, students and schools. 

The five rallies on Nov. 6 were held at LAUSD Local District Northwest, Harry Bridges Span School, Webster Middle School, the city of South Gate and the LAUSD headquarters. Members from eight different unions, such as SEIU Local 99, Teamsters Local 2010 and Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, along with families, were in attendance. 

Throughout the LAUSD Local District Northwest rally, multiple speakers were present to discuss and express their thoughts about the negotiation between UTLA and LAUSD. Daniel Pearl Magnet High School School Administrative Assistant Jennifer Miranda spoke at the LAUSD Local District Northwest rally to emphasize a fair raise for district employees and funding for schools.

“Let’s be clear, all unions have rejected their proposal,” said Miranda, who is also a member of Local Teamsters Local 572. “We will not accept frozen benefits or disrespectful raises. When the district invests in us, they invest in every student, every classroom and every community that we serve. We deserve fair pay. We deserve quality healthcare. We deserve respect.” 

Carlos Santana Arts Academy educator Esmeralda Gonzalez spoke about the need for action for UTLA and LAUSD to negotiate a new contract for students to have the opportunity to have an education at the LAUSD Local District Northwest rally.

“For eight months, most of LAUSD’s answers to our solutions have been no,” Gonzalez said. “But don’t they feel the urgency we and our families feel? LAUSD, we stand united to demand action. Together we can create schools where every child, no matter where they come from, has a chance to thrive.”  

In addition to LAUSD employees and families of educators, community members such as actor and comedian Joey Bragg, whose parents are both teachers, came out to the rallies to show their support for LAUSD employees. 

“I think they (LAUSD) just need to fund,” said Bragg, who attended the Local District Northwest rally. “They need to start making it so that these families can afford, that can’t afford food, can feed their kids. (They) need to make sure these families that can’t afford school supplies are given school supplies. They just need to make sure that the kids are able to get the best education possible.” 

It is undetermined whether UTLA and LAUSD will be able to come to an agreement. Despite this, Gonez hopes an agreement will be made through the efforts shown by LAUSD employees and families. 

“It’s great to see this show of solidarity,” Gonez said. “I think together through collection actions, that’s how we fight and get the investments that we want to see. The investments that our students deserve.” 

Staff Writer Victoria Lopez and Visual Editor Alex Salcedo contributed to the reporting of this article.